New hospital remains top priority of C4G
A new West Gippsland Hospital remains the number one priority project in Committee for Gippsland’s (C4G) just released third strategic plan.
Victoria’s Shadow Minister for Energy, Resources, Renewables and Innovation David Southwick launched the latest plan at the committee’s seventh annual meeting recently.
The 2018-2020 strategic plan updates previous versions and was compiled after months of consultation with member and stakeholders in the six Gippsland municipalities – Latrobe City and the shires of Baw Baw, South Gippsland, Bass Coast, Wellington and East Gippsland.
Other immediate priorities for the region include a digital connectivity master plan making the jobs and innovation showcase at Federation University an annual event, securing support for a regional carbon innovation centre and for Lindenow Valley water security projects, a Princes Highway bypass of Traralgon, improved rail services and updating of the Gippsland Freight Infrastructure master plan.
C4G chief executive officer Mary Aldred said it remained confident a new hospital for West Gippsland “would get over the line”.
She said the consultation sessions on a new strategic plan had raised a number of challenges for Gippsland.
As well as digital connectivity, there was a need to address the financial burden of rising electricity prices and the cost of doing business, improve recognition of the Gippsland brand and achieve better skills, training and higher education outcomes for the region.
The annual meeting confirmed the 10 board members for the next year.
Harry Rijs of Patties Foods at Bairnsdale is chairman and John McNaught of GHD Traralgon the vice-chairman.
The other members are Sean Dignum of SDA Strategic at Neerim South, Heather Noonan from the Commonwealth Bank at Warragul, Tony Wakefield (Safetech, Moe), Rochelle Wrigglesworth (DGM Financial, Sale), Professor Leigh Sullivan (Federation University, Churchill), Tim Weight (consultant of Bairnsdale) David Mawer (The Performance Attitude, San Remo) and Rohan Hubbard (Warren Graham Murphy, Bairnsdale).